SPILL NEW MUSIC: DOVES’ JEZ WILLIAMS ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM AND LIVE DATES WITH HOLLOW MAN

DOVES’ JEZ WILLIAMS ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM AND LIVE DATES WITH HOLLOW MAN

EARTH TO ECHO RECORDS

Doves’ guitarist and vocalist, Jez Williams, has announced his debut, ten-track album, Life Of Me And You for release on Fri 26 February 2027, whilst simultaneously plotting three solo live dates in his home city of Manchester. Williams’ album and live news is supercharged by the release of his heavy riffed protest at the pressures of modern life, Hollow Man, the first single to be lifted from the project he describes as a ‘book of my life’.

Returning to the stage of the O2 Ritz for the first time since Doves played the historic venue 22 years ago, Williams joins Elbow on their special, intimate and sold-out Asleep In The Back live dates on Fri 20, Sat 21 and Sun 22 November 2026. Comprised of three full band solo performances, the sets will focus entirely on the new collection of songs set for release early next year.

Enjoying four decades in music as a writer, performer and producer, Life Of Me And You follows Williams’ widely celebrated work with Doves, including three No.1 albums, as well as the cult 90s dance trio Sub Sub and Black Rivers, the band he formed in 2012 with his twin brother and bandmate, Andy Williams. Hinting at his solo announcement last month, Williams quietly released instrumental versions of Magnificent Morning and Walk Alone on limited, hand-stamped 7″ vinyl, leading to a complete independent record shop sell-out within 24 hours and impressions on the Official Vinyl Singles (No.3), Physical Singles Sales (No.7) and UK Official Single Sales Charts (No.54).

In choosing Hollow Man as the first cut of music to be more widely shared, Williams arrives with purpose to introduce a deeply introspective and musically adventurous album influenced by Lou Reed, UFOs, sassy sixties pop stars, Balearic chill and ‘slow disco’.

“Without resorting to clichés, ‘Hollow Man’ is about our modern life,” he explains. “It can just so easily take the soul out of you. Too much information, too many opinions, too much change coming from all angles. Tsunamis of information coming at you. It can be overwhelming. It makes you less present and makes you more in your head. I thought to put all of that to a sort of AC/DC-style riff, breaking out into a wider chorus. It all just came out in one go.”

Written, recorded and produced by Williams in various studios in an unhurried process of creative exploration, Life Of Me And You will be released on Earth To Echo Records on multiple formats including standard and limited edition, M62 zone indie shops red dawn vinyl, fans only ivory white vinyl, CD and digital.

With a back catalogue of adventurous music already behind him, bringing folk, soul, soundtrack and world music to Doves’ six studio albums released since 2000, Williams is keen to put a firm dividing line between what listeners have heard before and what’s to come.

“You cut me, and I bleed Doves, right?” he says. “But with this album, I made a conscious effort to try and say something else on my own. Without being too morbid, I want to put this album out as a little footprint of mine. When I am not here anymore, there will be something out there for my daughter or whoever else.

“I’ve worked really hard on it. It’s been a labour of love, and I just want one thing out there that’s all my own.”

Jez Williams
[Single]
(Earth To Echo Records)
Release Date: October 20, 2026

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Photo Credit: Mat Norman